A big-time negotiator was out fishing one day when he caught a strange looking fish。He reeled the fish in，unhooked it and threw it on the ground next to him。The fish started writhing in agony and，to the negotiator's surprise，said，“Please throw me back into the lake and I'll grant you three wishes。”“Any three wishes，huh？”the negotiator mused as visions of expensive fast cars and beautiful women paraded through his head。
“Fish。”he finally exclaimed，“Give me five wishes and I'll throw you back。”“Sorry，”the fish answered while struggling for breath，“Only three wishes”。
The negotiator's pride was at stake and after some thought he announced，“What do you take me for？A sucker？I'll settle for four wishes。”“Only three。”the fish murmured weakly。
Fuming，the man debated the pros and cons of accepting the three wishes or continuing to bargain for that one extra wish。Finally，the negotiator decided it wasn't worth looking a gift fish in the mouth and said，“All right fish，you win，three wishes。”Unfortunately，by then the fish was dead。
有一天，一位杰出的磋商者外出钓鱼，他钓到了一条长相非常奇怪的鱼。他把线拉过来，把鱼从勾上拿下来，扔在了旁边的地上。鱼痛苦地挣扎了起来，它对钓鱼者说：“请把我扔回湖中吧，我能让你满足三个愿望。”钓鱼者非常吃惊，说道：“任何三个愿望都可以满足？”磋商者仿佛看到了昂贵的跑车和漂亮的女人。
“鱼儿，”他终于开口了，“让我满足5个愿望我就把你扔回湖中。”“对不起，”鱼呼吸困难地说，“只能满足3个愿望。”
磋商者的自尊受到了伤害，他想了想之后，说：“你把我当什么了？笨蛋吗？4个愿望吧，就这么定了。”“只能满足三个，”鱼孱弱地说。
磋商者十分生气，他开始权衡利弊，到底是接受3个愿望呢，还是继续向鱼争取4个愿望。最后，他觉得不值得再和鱼争了，说：“好吧，鱼，你赢了，就3个愿望吧。”但不幸的是，鱼已经死了。
1.negotiator n。出售者，交易者，转让者
Polly is a competent negotiator。（宝莉是个能干的磋商者。）
2.agony n。极度痛苦，苦恼
They went through the agonies of war and famine。（他们经历了战争和饥荒的痛苦。）
3.vision n。看见，所见事物
The vision of the table loaded with food made our mouths water。（看见桌上堆满了食物使我们垂涎欲滴。）
1.at stake 在危险中，在成败关头
The life of the patient is at stake。（病人的生命在危急中。）
2.the pros and cons 赞成和反对的理由
The pros and cons of strike action were discussed。（罢工行动的利弊已经讨论过了。）